50 Best Mother's Day Movies to Watch With Mom
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50 Best Mother's Day Movies That You Should Watch on Her Special Day

It's the perfect activity for the sweet holiday!

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Planning some special events for your mom on Mother's Day shouldn't be a stressful thing. While you may take some time finding the perfect gift, a day with mom in general is a day well spent—and she will surely agree. So, if you're looking for the best Mother's Day activity, you might want to suggest having a movie day or night with her. There are plenty of feel-good flicks that put moms on a pedestal in some way, and this list of Mother's Day movies is full of them. The only stressful thing about this is having to pick just which movie you want to watch!

Get this: there are actually so many Mother's Day movies out there that celebrate moms and matriarchs of all walks of life, and this roundup has a little bit of everything. There are classic family comedies like The Parent Trap and Freaky Friday, mother-daughter movies that explore the complicated relationships between moms and their kids like Stepmom and Lady Bird, and fun animated films for younger kids to watch with their moms, like Brave and Turning Red. There are even a few musicals in here, like Mamma Mia and The Sound of Music, that are sure to have you both singing and dancing around the living room! Some may not be exactly about motherhood precisely, but would still make a great addition to your Mother's Day movie marathon.

Take a look at these other Mother's Day ideas:

1

Terms of Endearment

Terms of Endearment
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Credit: Amazon

Shirley MacLaine and Debra Winger arguably play the most iconic on-screen mother-daughter duo in this film that's both heart wrenching and heartwarming. It shows the strong bond a mom and her daughter can have, even when they sometimes strongly disagree on certain matters.

2

Georgia Rule

Georgia Rule
Credit: Amazon

A true story of motherhood! When Lilly is facing problems with her rebellious teenage daughter, Rachel, the only thing she knows to do is seek the help of her own mother, Georgia. If there's one thing about Georgia, she'll make sure everyone, no matter how feisty, will obey her rules.

3

Instant Family

Instant Family
Credit: Amazon

Parenthood is no easy feat, but "instant parenthood" may be even harder! That's what this married couple feels like, anyway, when they bring home three loving foster children. Together, the sweet pair learn how to take on this wholesome but definitely difficult journey.

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4

Baby Boom

Baby Boom
Credit: Amazon

Diane Keaton plays a character who has little to no time for anything other than her job (and her flimsy love life). So, when she's suddenly the sole caretaker of her relative's baby, it's clear that she doesn't know what she's doing. Watch as she balances this new life, and learns what is really important to her.

5

Cheaper By The Dozen

Cheaper By The Dozen
Credit: Amazon

Having a big family is a lot to take on, especially if both parents have their own set of unruly children. Tune into this family-friendly classic on Mother's Day for a boat full of laughs!

6

Mermaids

Mermaids
Credit: Amazon

No, Cher isn't actually a mermaid in this movie! She is, however, a mother with two very opinionated daughters, who are played by Winona Ryder and Christina Ricci. Things get trickier for Cher's character when the oldest daughter falls for someone who she probably shouldn't.

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7

Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood

Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood
Credit: Amazon

Vivi is a mother with a strange way of going about parenting, which is sort of why her daughter Sidda starts to distance herself. In come Vivi's longtime BFFs who try to salvage the two's relationship by trying to remedy past faults.

8

Otherhood

Otherhood
Credit: Netflix

Don't mess with these three mothers, because they're absolutely fed up! (With their sons, that is.) In order to teach them a lesson, and to get their sons to stop taking advantage of their kindness, they drive all the way to the big apple to put them in their place.

9

Thelma & Louise

Thelma & Louise
Credit: Amazon

These two besties take the term "partner in crime" to a whole new level. Thelma & Louise is the ultimate girls movie to watch on Mother's Day, focusing on two friends who are more than okay with breaking the law for each other.

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10

Miss Juneteenth

Miss Juneteenth
Credit: Amazon

Like mother, like daughter! Turquoise Jones just wants her daughter to win the exact beauty pageant she won when she was her age, not realizing she may be setting standards that her rebellious daughter has no interest in meeting.

11

Real Women Have Curves

Real Women Have Curves
Credit: Amazon

Loved Barbie? Then watch America Ferrera in her debut feature film as Ana García, a Mexican American teen who strives to further her education. This will mean that she'll need to tell her mom that she doesn't plan on getting married anytime soon, and probably won't take over the family business.

12

Away We Go

Away We Go
Credit: Amazon

A pregnant mama and her hubby travel the entire world, looking for a location that just feels right for their soon-to-be-born baby! It's a little peculiar, but also wholesome. What more can you ask for in a movie?

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13

Riding in Cars with Boys

Riding in Cars with Boys

Any Drew Barrymore movie is worth watching, but especially this one about a gal who aspires to be a writer in NYC. She is a busy teenager in the midst of figuring out how to make her dreams come true when she faces a shocking turn of events: she's pregnant! This true story will definitely warrant a tear or two.

14

Bird Box

Bird Box
Credit: Netflix

The love of a mother knows no limits! So, when the world becomes occupied with mysterious monsters who can captivate you with just one look, a mother of two (Sandra Bullock) will do whatever she needs to to keep her kids safe.

15

Little Miss Sunshine

Little Miss Sunshine
Credit: Amazon

Olive is a spunky little girl, but that's exactly why her mother loves her. Even when the rest of her family discourages her originality! When Olive decides to join a beauty pageant, her mother is her biggest fan.

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16

Life as We Know It

Life as We Know It
Credit: Amazon

It's safe to say that Holly and Eric are sworn enemies. But when their mutual friends pass away due to an accident, they must come together to take care of their baby. The suddenly new parents are now learning a lot about life with this new venture!

17

Serial Mom

Serial Mom
Credit: Amazon

This one is for those who don't mind a little dark humor every once in a while. It has to do with a mom who thinks she needs to protect her family by taking some drastic measures. Is she becoming a little delusional?

18

Mother's Day

Mother's Day

Well, this is an obvious choice! Mother's Day is another holiday ensemble film from the late, great director Garry Marshall (Pretty Woman). It features an A-list cast including Julia Roberts, Jennifer Aniston, and Kate Hudson. It's the perfect movie to pop on if you and Mom are in the mood for a feel-good rom-com.

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19

Yes Day

Yes Day
Credit: Netflix

There's probably a good reason why Mom always said no to your wildest requests. But in this fun family film, anything goes!

20

CODA

CODA
Credit: Apple TV+

The Best Picture of 2022 is also one of the best movies to watch for Mother's Day. Actress Marlee Matlin delivers a powerful performance as the mother of teenage Ruby, an aspiring singer and the only hearing member of her family.

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Tierney McAfee

Tierney McAfee is a freelance writer and Country Living and The Pioneer Woman contributor who covers entertainment, holiday & entertaining, food & drinks, design ideas, DIY, and more.

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